BlueStacks provides the ability to run Android apps on Microsoft's Surface Pro
BlueStacks is at it again, this time updating their application to work with Microsoft's Surface Pro, as well as Windows 8, providing the ability to run Android apps on the tablet and OS, respectively.
The latest version of their app fully supports Windows 8, right down to the charms bar and rotation support, as well as being optimized for the Surface Pro. Best of all, BlueStacks' app is free, giving you the ability to run Android apps on Windows 8 devices, or if you were lucky enough to score one of Microsoft's Surface Pro tablets in the last couple of days.
You can download the BlueStacks app right
here.
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LG unveils their Optimus G Pro, features a 5.5-inch display, curved glass
I've said it previously, but I think we're going to see LG really crank up their quality moving into 2013 and it looks like this is happening. Today we have the unveiling of the South Korean-based company's Optimus G Pro.
LG's Optimus G Pro features a 5.5-inch display, and a curved glass design available in both black and white which LG says produces a "2.5D effect". The aforementioned 5.5-inch display ushers in 1920x1080 pixels, a quad-core processor that we should expect to arrive as Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro.
We should expect a launch later this month, but LG haven't stated whether this would be locked to just South Korea or not. We should hear more later this month at Mobile World Congress.
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Corsair acquires Scotland-based Simple Audio
On their rampage for world domination, Corsair have just acquired Scotland-based Simple Audio. Simple Audio have been around for five years and is mostly known in Europe for their networked set-top receivers.
These receivers are capable of sharing music from PCs, Macs, TVs, iPods and MP3 players, so we should expect Corsair to expand their audio lineup in the coming months and years. Corsair's acquisition will see Simple Audio's products jump across the pond, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Corsair haven't said anything about the amount of money they paid for Simple Audio, but the American computer component maker have said that they'd been checking out Simple Audio's dance moves for a while now - even since 2010 - and felt that now is the right time to acquire them.
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New Batman Arkham game coming this year, not developed by Rocksteady Studios unfortunately
The two Batman games we've been treated to over the last few years have been homeruns for Rocksteady Studios, but according to the latest investor from Time Warner, we should expect a third Batman Arkham game this year, not made by Rocksteady Studios. Time Warner's CFO and Chief Administrative Officer, John K. Martin, said:
And we also have a strong games release this year, which will include the next release in the Batman Arkham franchise. So all in all, we expect Warners to post another very strong year in 2013. And with a little luck, the year should be as good or maybe even a little bit better than 2012.
VG247's sources have confirmed that Rocksteady Studios' hands won't be all over this one, sadly.
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PlayStation 3 users finally get Skyrim DLC, Dragonborn now available
If you've been waiting around for the Skyrim DLC to come to PlayStation 3, your wait can finally come to an end. Over the next three weeks, Sony will be releasing one DLC pack per week. First up for release is Skyrim's Dragonborn DLC which is available for only $9.99 for the first week. After which, it will set you back $19.99.
Users will be able to pick up Hearthfire next week, so stay tuned for news about when that is released. The PlayStation blog has more details on the Dragonborn DLC, since it has been a while since it originally released on other platforms:
- Explore Beyond Skyrim - Leave the province of Skyrim and travel to the coastal island of Solstheim. Encounter the Dark Elven settlers of Raven Rock and the native Skaal, as you unravel the mystery of a Dragonborn's return.
- Become the Ultimate Dragonborn - Harness the power of the Voice as you face off against the first Dragonborn. Wield new shouts and spells including Dragon Aspect - allowing you to summon the inner power of a dragon to deliver colossal blows and strengthen other shouts.
- New Powers - Discover dark powers as you journey into a new Daedric realm. Collect books of forbidden knowledge and choose new paths for your skills and abilities.
- New dungeons, creatures, weapons, and more - Suit up in Bonemold and Chitin armors and wield Stalhrim weapons as you navigate through a myriad of dungeons. Battle formidable foes like Ash Spawn, Rieklings, and more.
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Analyst says iTunes is Apple's fourth largest business
According to an analyst, Apple's fourth largest business is iTunes. Horace Dediu from Asymco says that the $13.5 billion in revenue generated by iTunes last year is enough to make it one of Apple's main focuses. According to Dediu, iTunes revenues have been rising "steadily and rapidly."
iTunes has apparently managed to have an average growth rate of 30 percent over the past two years. Due to Apple's Mac and iPod businesses shrinking, Dediu predicts that iTunes could soon become Apple's third largest business. Whether or not this negates the RIAA's argument that pirating is bad, it can be shown that digital sales are certainly growing despite pirates.
"
Indeed, if seen in isolation, iTunes plus Accessories combined is a bigger business in terms of revenues than any of the other phone vendors except Samsung," Dediu said.
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Amazon is most reputable US company, forges ahead of Apple
In a new Harris poll that sought the opinions of more than 14,000 people, Amazon has come out on top in two of the six categories. The poll asked respondents to rank companies based upon six criteria: social responsibility; emotional appeal; financial performance; products and services; vision and leadership; and workplace environment.
Amazon pulled out a win in the "emotional appeal" and "products and services" categories. Amazon managed to place in the top five for the other four categories. Overall, Amazon managed to come out with a grade of 82.62, which makes this the fifth year in a row that they placed above 80 out of 100.
"
Our results show that Amazon has managed to build an intimate relationship with the public without being perceived as intrusive," Robert Fronk, executive vice president of Reputation Management at Harris Interactive, said in a statement. "
And as the company that is so widely known for its personal recommendations, more than 9 in 10 members of the public would recommend Amazon to friends and family."
Google made it into the top five for five of the criteria and Apple, just four. Still, tech companies appear to be doing well when it comes to reputation. Even Facebook made it into the Top 60 companies.
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Snapchat beta testing self-destructing videos in Android version of app
Snapchat users running the app on Android haven't been able to send candid, self-destructing video messages, though this should soon change. Snapchat is beta testing the ability for Android-based Snapchat users to send videos that self-destruct Mission Impossible style before launching the update for all Android users.
Yesterday, an invitation may have popped up and--pardon the pun--self-destructed on your device. If you missed registering for the beta, you'll have to wait until the app is updated in the Google Play Store. This could take a few days to a few weeks depending on how many bugs are found by the beta testers.
Of course, we caution users that the ability to save videos and pictures by looking into the app's files before viewing still exists. If there is something you can't have getting out, we recommend not sending it via Snapchat.
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Vuzix releases 3D augmented reality glasses Wrap 1200AR, cost just $1499
Vuzix new augmented reality glasses, the Wrap 1200AR, are similar in many ways to the Wrap 1200VR set. The main difference here is that the new pair of glasses focus on augmented reality (hence the
AR as opposed to the
VR). They feature two VGA cameras that record stereoscopic video of where you're looking.
This allows them to produce 3D images that have been augmented with the requested augmented reality data. The idea here is that users can see information about exhibits, cities, and other things while walking around. It's not clear who would want these glasses, but if you do, you'll have to shell out $1,499.
Paul Travers, President and CEO, Vuzix Corporation:
We are excited to be shipping these new digital ARglasses, offering a huge 75-inch screen, as seen from 10 feet. New features such as adjustable eye-separation, synchronized camera and display tilt combine for the best digital see-through AR user experience on the market. AR is taking the world by storm and is gaining momentum in many markets. We provide these AR tools to research facilities, universities, game developers and enthusiasts, enabling them to develop affordable and compelling Augmented Reality solutions.
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Luxury cell phone manufacturer Vertu launches new Android device called Ti
We just can't justify spending $10,000 on a mobile phone, but there are apparently people out there that are. Vertu, a luxury phone manufacturer that used to be owned by Nokia, has just released a new model that will cost just about that. Even more interesting is the fact that the specifications aren't that great.
The front camera is a mere 1.3 megapixels and it only features 64GB of internal storage. The device is mainly aimed at the super rich who want to buy the device because of the brand and price tag rather than the actual specifications. Previous devices by Vertu have retailed for as much as $90,000.
Even still, $10,000 for a device is quite incredible. If you had the cash around to buy one, would you?
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Dropbox introduces more admin features for enterprise users
Dropbox has become fairly ubiquitous with cloud storage and syncing for consumers. Most people don't know that Dropbox is trying to work its way into the enterprise market with services such as Dropbox for Teams. Dropbox for Teams is aimed at the business market and allows multiple users to connect to a single Dropbox.
Dropbox has introduced more admin features today that should help boost Dropbox's use in the professional world. New additions to the admin features include the ability for managers to keep track of all signed-in users, control permissions for what they are allowed to do, see how much space they're using, and see what kind of devices users have connected.
Dropbox would like to take away some of the market from its competitor Box. Box's service was designed with the enterprise at the forefront so Dropbox has a good distance to make up to catch Box.
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Intel confirms they will launch Internet-based TV service this year
There were some rumors, discussions, and rumblings about Intel working on a settop box and Internet TV service. Erik Huggers, Intel's general manager of media, has confirmed that Intel is working on an Internet-based TV service and plans to launch it sometime this year.
"
For the first time, we will deliver ... a new consumer electronics product that people will buy from Intel through a new brand," Huggers said.
Don't get too excited, though, as it appears that the service will be similar to how cable currently offers. It won't likely come with the ability to purchase individual channels. "
If bundles are bundled right, there's real value in that. ... I don't believe the industry is ready for pure a la carte."
Details on the service are still scarce, but we can expect to know more now that it has been officially confirmed.
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RumorTT: Samsung may debut Galaxy S IV mini, Galaxy Watch at same time as Galaxy S IV
All eyes will be on Samsung in the coming weeks and months as we approach the rumored launch date for the successor to the Galaxy S III. Rumors place the device as the Galaxy S IV and say that it will be announced sometime in March with a launch in May. New rumors are saying we can expect more than just the S IV.
Samsung could also be working on a mini version of the S IV, much like they did with the S III. This would make a lot of sense as it provides brand recognition and could be offered at a lower price point than the more powerful S IV. The rumor says that this device might launch at the same time as the full-size S IV.
Another rumored device is a possible watch-like product that would be compatible with arm bands and the like. The device could be in response to Apple's rumored iWatch and sounds like it would operate somewhat like the older iPod nano did.
We'll be keeping our eyes on Samsung to see if we can track down more information on these rumored devices.
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PS3 users get Call of Duty: Black Ops II Revolution DLC February 28
If you've been waiting for the new Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC on PlayStation 3, your wait will soon be over. The Revolution DLC pack is coming to PlayStation 3 users on February 28, or just over two weeks from today. The DLC is identical to the one that was released on Xbox 360 late last month.
It features four new multiplayer maps, a new Zombies map, and a new Zombies game mode. Additionally, the DLC contains the first-ever DLC-added multiplayer weapon. This new gun comes in the form of the Peacekeeper SMG and is only available in multiplayer aspects of the game.
You can find out all about the new maps on
PlayStation's announcement page.
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Montana Emergency Alert System hacked, broadcast reports of Zombies rising from the grave
Yesterday, an emergency alert broadcast interrupted Montana television viewers with a message that was both horrifying and hilarious at the same time. The obviously bogus message reported that "
Dead bodies are rising from their graves".
The fraudulent alert was quickly pulled off the airwaves by Great Falls based KRTV and an apology was quickly issued. The alert was the result of a hack into the EAS system and authorities have yet to find the culprit.
While the motivation is still unclear as to why the hack was issued, some speculate that it could have been a viral marketing campaign for the popular TV show The Walking Dead. One thing is certain though; I think we all can admit to this being the funniest thing we have seen all week.
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Netflix and DreamWorks partner up to create new kids series, Turbo F.A.S.T.
Netflix is continuing down its path of original content creation. The company has announced that it has teamed up with DreamWorks to develop its first TV show aimed at children.
Turbo F.A.S.T. is the spinoff of the movie Turbo, which is set to hit theaters this summer. Netflix is looking to capitalize on its predicted success by creating the new series. As part of the deal, Netflix will offer its customers access to DreamWorks Animation feature titles in the US.
The deal with DreamWorks is significant as Netflix now has content up from the two biggest names in animated film - the other being Disney, which signed a deal with Netflix last year. As a Netflix subscriber, I like the deal of being able to stream additional exclusive content. For me, it just makes it easier to justify spending the extra $8 a month on a service I do not use as much as I should.
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VLC team open to adding BitTorrent media streaming support in future release
Chances are, if you are reading this article, then you have at least heard of VLC, if it's not already on your PC. For those of you who have not heard of it, VLC is the world's most popular after-market software media player, mostly because it does not need to be configured with a ton of codec packs to work properly.
Fans of the media player would like to see the software be able to stream BitTorrent files and are putting their money where their mouth is by offering $10,000 to the person who can code in the functionality to VLC.
The dev team at Video Lan, the company behind VLC, has said that if the code were right, then they would be more than happy to add a BitTorrent module to the player. The major hurdle that has to be overcome is that the torrent would need to prioritize data close to the play position in the VLC player, which is something that torrents don't traditionally do.
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Plex media server app for Android gets a makeover, as well as media server capabilities
Plex is undisputedly one of the easiest to use media server apps available that is truly cross platform for all operating systems. Today users of Plex Media Server and its Android app will be able to upgrade to a completely overhauled UI and feature set.
Today a blog post by the Plex team has given us details on the new version. One minor hit, is the deletion of incompatibility for devices running Android 3.2 or earlier. Android users can expect to see a completely yet vaguely familiar UI along with some performance increases.
The new Android app also supports media server functionality, something that has been limited to Windows, OSX, Linux and NAS devices before now. This opens up a lot of opportunity to owners of Android set top boxes like the Pivos Xios DS, and even tablet owners who wish to stream their purchased movies to their TV's without the use of an HDMI cable.
I have been a Plex user for several months now and absolutely love its media server functionality. I have it running on a file server, which streams via Plex to my set tip Pivos Xios DS boxes where the data is then imported into XBMC. If you are not a Plex user yet, I cannot recommend it enough.
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Adobe Creative Cloud price drops ahead of Australian government tax inquiry
The Australian government
will be holding an upcoming investigation into Adobe, Apple and Microsoft on allegations that the company's price their products much higher for domestic consumers.
Adobe has dropped the price of its Creative Cloud suite days ahead of the inquiry's start date, in what can only be seen as a move to appease investigators. Individual pricing have been reduced to $49.99 AUD per month based on an annual subscription whereas a month to month subscription will cost you $74.99 AUD per month.
While it remains unseen if Microsoft or Apple will make similar moves, Adobe's actions have gained some favor with Labor MP Ed Husic who is spear heading the investigation. Husic said in an interview that he was pleased with Adobe's decision to lower prices, but stated that the company needed to do more.
Husic said:
"Lowering business IT costs will provide a big boost to small and medium sized enterprises - and we need to keep pushing to see this happen," Husic said. "As a member of the IT Pricing Inquiry, I'm looking forward to finding out what else Adobe plans to do to reduce its prices."
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RumorTT: Next-gen iPhone may have solid aluminum case if "Microslot Antenna" patent rings true
The United States Patent and Trade Office have granted Apple a new patent today. The patent describes a new "Microslot Antenna" that would integrate cellular and wireless radio antennas directly into the case materials.
The patent was filed in 2007, which is why the technical drawing below depicts a notebook instead of a phone. It depicts micron-wide antennas that would be built into the device's housing, which would be able to communicate with cellular, WiFi and Bluetooth, making it the perfect antenna for the iPhone.
This new patent sets the stage for upcoming iPhone's to have solid aluminum cases which would be thinner and use fewer components. An all-aluminum case would fit perfectly into Apple's companywide design scheme, and would look perfect next to a MacBook Air. What do you think? Will we see an iPhone that is carved from a single block of aluminum any time soon? Let us know in the comments.
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Broadcom announces smaller, more advanced LTE modem chip capable of up to 150Mb/s
Broadcom just unveiled its next-generation LTE modem chip this morning. The BCM21892 is a high-end 4G LTE modem chip that is designed for use on flagship smartphones with support for LTE-Advanced and is capable of data speeds of 150Mb/s.
Carriers wishing to use the next-gen 4G modem will need to deliver 20MHz of contiguous bandwidth or Carrier Aggregation Technology. CAT allows the modem to exploit multiple chunks of bandwidth simultaneously, thus generating more bandwidth without a high MHz connection.
BCM21892 is compatible with most popular network standards in use around the world, from the TD and FD types of LTE to HSPA+, TD-SCDMA and EDGE/GSM. Built on a 28nm process and using clever algorithms, the chip is able to reduce power consumption by 25 percent compared to rival devices.
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Android 4.2.2 update begins rolling out to Nexus devices
If you're like me and rocking a Nexus device, you might want to see if there's any updates available to your device. Judging from posters on Reddit and Android Police, Android 4.2.2 is floating out to users, slowly.
The update seems to have arrived for Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 owners, but I've just checked my Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 and both of them don't have updates available. Mind you, I'm in Australia. The only changes listed by Google are for "performance and stability", but we should also see fixes for BluetoothA2DP problems.
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Steam now offering week-long deals
Valve are great with their daily and weekend sales, on top of their holiday sales - but now we've been introduced to some week-long sales of games. The company announced this today, and we have
four games on sale at the moment - this time, for a week.
The first week-long sale begins with FlatOut, Steel Storm: Retribution, Alpha Prime and Karateka. FlatOut is 75% off at just $1.87, Steel Storm: Burning Retribution is 50% off at $2.49, Alpha Prime has 75% discount at just $1.25 and Karateka has 50% off bringing its price down to $4.99. These games will be on sale until 1pm ET on Monday, February 18.
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Microsoft have sold 76 million Xbox 360 consoles, 24 million Kinect accessories
Can you believe it, the Xbox 360 launched over seven years ago now, but how are the sales on the console doing now? Well, we're looking at over 76 million Xbox 360 consoles sold, and around 24 million Kinects sensing consumers' arms and legs on the daily.
Xbox Live has a very tidy 46 million subscribers, where Microsoft says that this number is a 15% increase year-over-year, with both free and Gold subscribers included in this number.
I think we'll see this pass 100 million before 2015, but it will slow down a little when the next-gen Xbox is launched later this year.
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Microsoft to launch premium interactive TV shows later this year
It looks like we can expect premium interactive TV shows from Microsoft by the end of the year, where we'll see the new TV shows launch on their Xbox Live service. This is all according to a top executive from Microsoft during All Things Digital's Dive into Media conference, in Dana Point, California.
Back in September 2012, Microsoft hired former CBS Network Television Entertainment Group president, Nancy Tellem, who would be responsible for a new production studio in LA and creating interactive content for the Xbox 360. We're now seeing the fruits of her labor, and the first things to grow from this seed.
We should expect the interactivity side of things to include Kinect compatibility, but it won't just be there to be 'cool', Tellem says "
it has to be organic and a natural extension of what we are doing". She also declined to state just how much Microsoft are pumping into their original content, adding "
we are certainly looking at a very robust content production schedule".
I think we'll see this launch with the next-gen Xbox, and not just the current-gen Xbox 360. It would be perfect timing as the next-gen Xbox will usher in Kinect 2.0 and many more features I'm sure we'll all love.
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Zowie Gear EC1 Evo Black Competitive Gaming Mouse Review
Introduction
Just a couple of weeks ago I got this random email from Zowie Gear, asking if I may want to take a look at some of their products. Not too aware of their new products, I mean I know of Zowie Gear, but haven't been to their website in a long while, I was asked to have a look at a mouse pad and a mouse. After a bit of back and forth, they realized I am not one of those guys who thinks that higher DPI automatically equals a better mouse. Not that I am a huge fan of optical sensors, I just prefer a mouse that works well, feels good, and does what is asked of it without any issues.
It is always good to have change, and from all the mice with astronomical DPI I cannot control, cool lighting all over the mouse, and software that can have you programming things for hours. With the latest submission, we take a refreshing step back to the basics. Here we are going to be dealing with simplicity in the shape and design of the exterior of the mouse, use of an optical sensor to track your movements, and the only lighting offered in this mouse has a distinct reason for being there other than just to add "bling factor" to the product. One other huge benefit from my standpoint, is since this mouse keeps it simple for its users, there is no software to muck about in, potentially screwing up the way the designers meant for you to use the product.
We are in fact going to be looking at the Zowie Gear EC1 eVo with the black coloration, but Zowie Gear also sent along a mouse pad for us to play around with as well. So not only will we be addressing the mouse they have provided, but we will also be looking at a pad with some of the roughest texture on the tracking surface that I have ever seen.
With a mouse built to get the job done at any cost, without a bunch of bells and whistles to confuse you, along with a pad that should offer less friction against the feet, users should have a smooth and accurate gaming or desktop experience.
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Samsung 840 SSD Storage Endurance Testing - TLC to the End
Introduction
Despite what you may have read or heard, Samsung hasn't made any endurance claims regarding their new SSD grade triple-level cell (TLC) flash. A few numbers have been tossed around already, 1,000 and 1,500 program erase (P/E) cycles, but they didn't come from Samsung. The media, including myself guesstimated the numbers, but for all you know they could have been pulled out of a hat.
What makes the Samsung 840 a perfect target for our first endurance test is it's something different. We've had SLC and MLC NAND for years, but the 840 drive is the first consumer SSD in the wild with TLC.
(Image from Xtremesystems.org Forums)
Another interesting angle for this test comes
from another test conducted at Xtremesystems.org. A forum member ran a similar endurance test on a Samsung 830 and, well as you can see in the graph above, it endured for a lot longer than anyone imagined.
So, we are pairing the unknown with the nearly unbelievable in an article series that will update you on the progress of one Samsung 840 - first boot till death!
We made a short video embedded above to document the start of the test.
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Dell Updates UltraSharp Displays with PremierColor Monitors and New Ultra Wide Model
Dell today announced the availability of three flagship monitors designed to provide users with an exceptional visual experience and outstanding screen performance. The new U3014, U2713H and U2413 displays each offer one of the industry's highest-quality and most advanced technology experiences, with uncompromising screen performance, precise, consistent colors, great usability and a wide array of connectivity options. The U3014 is Dell's largest screen size to date, while all three monitors come with PremierColor for true-to life, accurate, customizable colors that cover industry standards. Dell also announced a Single Monitor Arm (MSA14) and Dual Monitor Stand (MDS14), the first arm and stand optimized for Dell monitors with Dell Quick Release mounts.
Dell UltraSharp U3014 30-inch Monitor with PremierColor
Users will experience outstanding color accuracy, precision and performance with the Dell UltraSharp U3014 30-inch monitor with PremierColor. The U3014 is Dell's flagship high performance monitor with a 16:10 aspect ratio, suitable for the fine level of detail required for color-critical work such as CAD/CAM, graphic design, desktop publishing, gaming or media creation. In addition, users will experience stunning high-definition details and the ability to view more onscreen content with 2560 x 1600 resolution. More than just a high performance monitor, the U3014 offers flexible viewing options, versatile digital connectivity and is designed for exceptional efficiency with an eco-design that meets the latest environmental standards like EPEAT, ENERGY STAR and TCO Certified Displays.
Dell UltraSharp U2713H 27-inch and U2413 24-inch Monitors with PremierColor
Engineered to equip you with the best for color-critical work, the Dell UltraSharp U2713H 27-inch and U2413 24-inch monitors with PremierColor offer rich, vivid, lifelike images right out of the box. Users will experience remarkably consistent, precise, and accurate colors calibrated at the factory to support 99 percent AdobeRGB and 100 percent sRGB coverage with a deltaE of less than 2; each monitor arrives with a certified report to indicate its exact color calibration. A 12-bit internal processor enables a whopping 1.07 billion colors, superb color reproduction and gradation onscreen. For even more precise color calibration, the Dell UltraSharp Color Calibration Solution software provides access to the 14-bit LUT so users can calibrate the monitors to several popular color spaces. Dell recommends the optional X-Rite i1Display Pro colorimeter (sold separately) for generating custom color profiles.
Dell UltraSharp U2913WM 29-inch Ultra-wide Monitor
In addition to the updated Dell UltraSharp U3014, U2713H and U2413 monitors with PremierColor, Dell recently announced the U2913WM 29-inch Ultra-wide monitor featuring a unique aspect ratio that takes multi-tasking to a whole new level. The U2913WM is Dell's first 29-inch ultra-wide monitor with a unique aspect ratio of 21:9, providing time-conscious, multi-tasking workers with a great alternative to dual monitors. For additional space, users may simply replicate or extend content to additional monitors using DisplayPort 1.2.1 After a productive day at work, a wide Full HD, visually stunning color accuracy and a breathtaking panoramic view can redefine an evening's entertainment experience.
Dell Single Monitor Arm and Dual Monitor Stand
The Dell Single Monitor Arm (MSA14) and Dell Dual Monitor Stand (MDS14) are designed to improve the viewing comfort of users and enhance user productivity. The MSA14 articulating arm can help maximize viewing comfort and improve productivity. Its multi-adjustment capabilities including height adjustability, tilt, swivel and pivot features let users move the monitor to the desired position and collaborate more easily. It can easily be attached to the U3014, U2713H, U2413 and select Dell monitor panels with a simple snap to the Dell Quick Release mount at the back of the monitor without needing screws. With the MDS14 dual monitor stand, users can snap on two Dell monitor panels with the Dell Quick Release mount and enjoy improved productivity and a clutter-free desktop. Tilt, swivel, height adjust and horizontally slide the monitors on the stand to customize to preferred viewing angles. The U-shaped monitor stand also frees up productive desk space in front of the monitors and reduces cable clutter with a cable management slot on the stand riser.
"The Dell UltraSharp series offers one of the industry's highest-quality and most advanced technology experiences," said George Toh, Marketing Director of Dell Displays. "We are thrilled to update the UltraSharp family with the U3014, U2713H and U2413 displays, along with our first Dell-branded single monitor arm and dual monitor stand. The displays and accessories offer users an outstanding visual experience and the versatility to boost productivity and multi-task with ease."
Pricing and Availability
Dell UltraSharp U3014 is coming soon worldwide starting from US$1499. Dell UltraSharp U2713H & U2413 monitors are currently available worldwide starting at US$999 and US$599, respectively. The Dell Single Monitor Arm is currently available starting from US$149, and the Dual Monitor Stand is currently available starting from US$169.
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Intel Introduces Cache Acceleration Software for Use with SSD Data Center Family
Intel Corporation today announced its Intel Cache Acceleration Software (CAS) for Linux* that prioritizes application performance, providing solid-state drive (SSD) levels of speed without migration costs, and built-in data integrity for Intel's SSD data center family of products. The Linux version of the software will be generally available within 30 days as an enterprise subscription and open source release. It will complement the existing Intel CAS 2.0 for Windows that is available today.
Intel CAS 2.0 is based on technology from Intel's August 2012 acquisition of NEVEX Virtual Technologies, and provides key capabilities that enhance the company's SSD data center family of products. Intel's CAS 2.0 solution provides significant input/output (I/O) and application performance improvements in use cases including database/OLTP, virtualization, cloud and big data (Hadoop).
"Intel CAS complements our SSD data center family by providing a total caching solution that delivers even more value and capability for our customers," said Chuck Brown, product line manager for Intel's Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group. "Intel CAS delivers a multi-level cache across the SSD and DRAM for optimal performance. Compared to short-stroked hard-drive technology, we've seen up to 50 times the improvement in I/O performance throughput for read intensive workloads by adding Intel CAS with the Intel SSD 910 series1."
"With the combination of Intel CAS and the Intel 910 PCIe SSD, Intel has a solution that is a game changer for server-side caching," said James Bagley, senior analyst at Storage Strategies-NOW. "It allows IT to easily add more performance to their existing storage infrastructure, delivering SSD levels of speed without a complete data migration."
"The idea of improving application performance without breaking the bank is one that has obvious appeal in today's increasingly complex and demanding IT environments," said Mark Peters, senior analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. "Intel's CAS delivers on this aspiration in two ways: First, it is based upon Intel's high-performance and highly reliable solid-state solutions, which ensures easy integration and data integrity; and second, it is differentiated from 'vanilla' solid-state solutions in its use of multi-level caching across DRAM and SSD, which helps to simultaneously drive overall performance above, and overall costs below, that of less-sophisticated SSD-only solutions."
Provides Hassle-Free Application Acceleration and Performance
The Intel CAS solution provides significantly1 improved performance for I/O-intensive applications running on dedicated servers or virtual machines (VMs). With its unique policy-based caching, Intel CAS can target performance to specific applications, files, VM or individual database tables. Selective optimized caching allows administrators to focus performance on applications and data that directly impact the business while enabling consistent I/O acceleration by avoiding contention with other applications and server actions. A scalable application server tier with direct-attached SSD provides low latency and consistent performance, complementing SAN technologies for capacity storage tiers such as archive, backup, recovery and more. By balancing CPU and I/O performance, Intel CAS offers companies lower TCO with an optimized, integrated solution. "Attempts to solve I/O performance issues at the SAN tier have resulted in wasted spend, wasted productivity, and frustration to both users and IT administrators," said Steve Dalton, General Manager of Attached Platform Storage Software at Intel. "We have the seamless answer with our Cache Acceleration Software solution. Intel CAS allows administrators to target storage performance to those applications that need it the most, offloading IOPS from primary storage to the servers themselves, providing a win-win with previous storage spend."
Intel CAS 2.0 for Windows and Linux supports the Intel SSD data center family including the Intel DC S3700 and 910 Series. The open source code release will be available on intel.com. Additional information about Intel's new and innovative caching solution can be found
here.
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ASUS Rolls Out a Pair of Energy Efficient GeForce GTX 650 Graphics Cards
ASUS today announced global availability of the GeForce GTX 650-E, a motherboard bus-powered DirectX 11.1 graphics card that's ideal for desktop PCs with low-wattage power supplies The GeForce GTX 650-E combines DirectX 11.1 compatibility and 28nm NVIDIA GPU technology with a mere 60W power consumption, making it a very appealing upgrade option for users looking for a high-performance graphics card at an affordable price.
The ASUS GeForce GTX 650-E offers a quick and accessible upgrade for customers interested in affordable NVIDIA 28nm GPU technology. Powered from a PCI Express slot with a modest 60W average power consumption, the ASUS GeForce GTX 650-E is an ideal choice for users looking to upgrade their PCs without investing in a new power supply, making the process much easier and less costly. Available with 1GB or 2GB GDDR5 video memory, the ASUS GeForce GTX 650-E supports medium-to-high detail in current PC games, along with smooth 1080p full HD video playback.
Superior stability with Super Alloy Power
The ASUS GeForce GTX 650-E features exclusive Super Alloy Power components that reduce power loss and extend the card's lifespan by 2.5 times compared to a reference GeForce GTX 650 card. Super Alloy Power components can withstand higher temperatures and greater stress than generic power delivery designs, with the custom solid-state capacitors rated for 50,000 hours.
With fan blades shaped to restrict dust build-up and reduce the amount of debris entering the shroud, the ASUS GeForce GTX 650-E has a cooling system that maintains optimum heat dissipation for longer periods. ASUS testing shows this fan design can extend graphics card longevity by up to 25% compared to a reference GeForce GTX 650 graphics card.
Easy overclocking with GPU Tweak
The ASUS GeForce GTX 650-E delivers greater performance when used with the bundled GPU Tweak utility. A user-friendly interface offers easy adjustment of GPU and memory speeds, voltages, and fan RPM for straightforward overclocking control, and supports dedicated performance profiles to obtain the best results with different games and applications.
For more infomration, visit the product pages of the
GTX650-E-1GD5 and
GTX650-E-2GD5 variants.
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Noctua Introduces the NF-S12A 120 mm Fan
Noctua today presented the new, third generation of its signature S12 series quiet case fans, which have received more than 250 awards and recommendations from the international press. Featuring a further refined blade design with Anti-Stall Knobs that works in tandem with the new AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) frame, the NF-S12A improves the airflow/noise efficiency of its renowned predecessor by up to 8%.
"Introduced in 2006, the original NF-S12 became a cornerstone of our reputation as one of the leading manufacturers of premium quality quiet fans. The second generation NF-S12B, introduced in 2009, continued this tradition with an even better airflow to noise ratio, making it one of our most popular models of all time", says Mag. Roland Mossig, Noctua CEO. "We've been working on the next generation for about three years and now we're thrilled to be able to present a worthy successor with the new NF-S12A: The new Anti-Stall Knobs and our AAO type frame allowed us to squeeze out another 8% in airflow to noise efficiency!"
The NF-S12A's novel Anti-Stall Knobs reduce flow separation phenomena in medium to high impedance situations and thereby increase the fan's stall margin. This means that the NF-S12A is even more versatile than its renowned predecessor and can achieve better performance on heatsinks and radiators. Noctua's AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) frames feature integrated anti-vibration pads as well as Noctua's proprietary Stepped Inlet Design and Inner Surface Microstructures, both of which further refine the fan's performance/noise efficiency.
Three models will be available upon launch: While the NF-S12A FLX version provides 1200/900/700 rpm speed settings via the supplied Low-Noise Adaptors in order to give you full flexibility in fine-tuning the fan for maximum ventilation performance or near-silent operation, the NF-S12A ULN version provides super-slow 800/600 rpm speed settings for ultra-low-noise applications and highly noise-sensitive users. The NF-S12A PWM sports Noctua's custom designed NE-FD1 IC for fully automatic speed control via 4-pin fan headers and comes with a Low-Noise-Adaptor to reduce the maximum speed during PWM control from 1200 to 900 rpm.
All three models employ the further optimised second generation of Noctua's renowned, time-tested SSO bearing and use CNC milled brass bearing shells in order to guarantee the highest possible degree of manufacturing precision, minimum tolerance and excellent long-term stability. Like all Noctua fans, the NF-S12A models have an MTBF rating of more than 150.000 hours and come with a full 6 years manufacturer's warranty.
Pricing and availability
The new NF-S12A fans will be available immediately at recommended retail prices of EUR 19.90 / USD 21.90.
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Shuttle Announces X70S All-in-One Desktop
Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH, the European subsidiary of Shuttle Inc., one of the leading developers and manufacturers of compact PC solutions such as the world-renowned XPC Mini-PC Barebones, expands its range of All-in-One PCs with integrated monitors and adds a 46.7 cm (18.5") version to its original 39.5 cm (15.6") machines.
As well as offering a larger display, the new Shuttle All-in-One Barebone X70S also provides significantly more power. For the first time conventional Intel desktop processors can be used for the LGA1155 socket, e.g. Intel Core i3/i5/i7 (up to 65 W TDP, heatpipe-cooled). DDR3 RAM up to a total of 16 GB can be installed in the two SO-DIMM slots. The 5.7 x 46.8 x 36.4 cm (DWH) chassis of the X70S also has space for a 2.5" drive (SSD/HDD) as well as expansions via the Mini-PCIe slot, which can be fitted, for example, with an mSATA module.
The new model comes with Wi-Fi, webcam, microphone and stereo speakers for communication and media playback. Connectors for external speakers and microphone are also available. A second monitor can be hooked up via the HDMI interface. There are 2x USB 3.0 and 6x USB 2.0 ports on the side of the machine. The integrated card reader can read and write to standard SD memory cards.
The two Gigabit network cards of the X70S, up to three serial interfaces (COM) and a parallel interface (LPT) make the system suitable for unconventional applications. If you remove the pedestal at the rear of the machine, the X70S can be fitted to a VESA wall mount, monitor arm or floor stand.
"We envisage the X70S being used in the digital signage segment, as a service terminal at POI, as a till system at POS or simply as a powerful desktop PC, depending on configuration," says Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. "With its size, this machine fills an interesting gap and opens up interesting scenarios in combination with a second monitor."
With the separately available PCL70 accessory, the X70S can be expanded with two additional serial interfaces (COM) and a parallel interface (LPT).
The recommended retail price for the Shuttle All-in-One Barebone X70S is EUR 452.00 (ex VAT). This product is available now. For more information, visit the
product page.
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